Chrome Plateing
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
Yep.. what a coincidence.. I just got mine back today (not louvers but all of the trim near the T-tops. Chroming Pot metal is expensive because the chrome supposedly doesn't stick to it like it would to regular steel and they have to dip it several times.
I will post pics of what all I had chromed later on tonight.. but I will tell you I paid $400 for the lot.
Edit: A word of advice.. when dealing with potmetal, unless you're an originality ****, can't find the aftermarket part (or NOS part), or the aftermarket parts are notorious for being complete crap - get everything you can brand new.
I will post pics of what all I had chromed later on tonight.. but I will tell you I paid $400 for the lot.
Edit: A word of advice.. when dealing with potmetal, unless you're an originality ****, can't find the aftermarket part (or NOS part), or the aftermarket parts are notorious for being complete crap - get everything you can brand new.
Last edited by majic1984; Jun 22, 2005 at 01:12 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 1
From: Kerrville Texas
Can you buy already chromed vents for that year model? I know that on my 80 the vents came in black plastic from the factory but chrome vents can now be purchased through Ecklers.
Just a thought.
Kona
Just a thought.
Kona
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
I bought a nice 72 last summer in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It had CHROMED side vents.
Each to their own...but to me...I think it looks mo betta since I painted them back to the body color . But...Yes....they can definitely be chromed....GO FOR IT !
Each to their own...but to me...I think it looks mo betta since I painted them back to the body color . But...Yes....they can definitely be chromed....GO FOR IT !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 3
From: On an island surrounded by sharks Hawaii
Originally Posted by Sharky Guam
where is a good place to send stuff to get it chromed?
Because they are the only place around here they do take sometime
before they can return you parts to you. All of their work has been
really good.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by conway62
Where did you get all the plateing done?
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
(225) 355-3269
7109 Scenic Hwy
Baton Rouge, LA 70807
The guy there does EXCELLENT work... he's been doing chrome for 37 years - he's got pages of magazines of all the cars he's done all over the walls signed. It's a little hole in the wall place, but he does awesome work... I was pleased when I got my pieces back
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Antelope Valley CA
The chrome shop I recently used told me that chroming pot metal required a different "bath" of liquid that contained cyanide. At least in So Cal this causes problems with the Air Quality Management District folks. Of all my seat parts he could only do the hinges.
I believe he charged me $60 each and I found out later I could buy new for less. Live and learn!
Second lesson was that not all chroming is the same. Triple-plating using copper followed by nickel followed by chromium is the best. Mine just had copper followed by the chrome. I could see a faint tinge of copper at the top of one of the bars after it was done.
I believe he charged me $60 each and I found out later I could buy new for less. Live and learn!
Second lesson was that not all chroming is the same. Triple-plating using copper followed by nickel followed by chromium is the best. Mine just had copper followed by the chrome. I could see a faint tinge of copper at the top of one of the bars after it was done.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
My hinges were triple plated.. as far as the pot metal goes.. chromers HATE to deal with it.
You might want to take a look here...
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/chromeprocess.htm
There was another guy here in Baton Rouge that, when I brought the parts to him said.. "ohh ****.. pot metal, I hate pot metal! You really have to be in the right state of mind to fck with that stuff! Bring it back in about 3 weeks and I'll tell you if I feel like messing with it." I just laughed at him.
If you do decide to get that pot metal chromed... you better get someone who has TONS of experience.
You might want to take a look here...
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/chromeprocess.htm
Question -- Can pitted/cracked/broken pot metal be repaired?
Bobby -- Pitted/cracked/broken pot metal can be repaired and requires triple chrome (copper/nickel/chrome) since nickel won't stick to pot metal over time. Pot metal is the stuff they scrape off of the top of liquid steel. In the old days it was used to make cheap pots, hence the name. It's basically a very cheap metal that is full of air pockets, which is what causes the pitting. The cost of chroming a pot metal part is determined by two factors: The condition of the core and how good you want the finished piece to look. The more pits, the more trips into the copper tank and additional time by the "Polisher". If you've got a piece of broken pot metal that you're going to have chromed, let the chrome shop repair it rather than repairing it yourself with a "weld" product.
Bobby -- Pitted/cracked/broken pot metal can be repaired and requires triple chrome (copper/nickel/chrome) since nickel won't stick to pot metal over time. Pot metal is the stuff they scrape off of the top of liquid steel. In the old days it was used to make cheap pots, hence the name. It's basically a very cheap metal that is full of air pockets, which is what causes the pitting. The cost of chroming a pot metal part is determined by two factors: The condition of the core and how good you want the finished piece to look. The more pits, the more trips into the copper tank and additional time by the "Polisher". If you've got a piece of broken pot metal that you're going to have chromed, let the chrome shop repair it rather than repairing it yourself with a "weld" product.
There was another guy here in Baton Rouge that, when I brought the parts to him said.. "ohh ****.. pot metal, I hate pot metal! You really have to be in the right state of mind to fck with that stuff! Bring it back in about 3 weeks and I'll tell you if I feel like messing with it." I just laughed at him.
If you do decide to get that pot metal chromed... you better get someone who has TONS of experience.
Last edited by majic1984; Jun 23, 2005 at 12:48 PM.